Who Is Joshua Cheptegei? Uganda’s 10,000m Runner Who Beat Grant Fisher at Paris Olympics

At the Paris Olympics, the 10,000m race was a barnburner! Joshua Cheptegei blazed across the finish line with an Olympic record of 26:43.14 to seize gold, while Berihu Aregawi just managed to nip Grant Fisher at the wire for silver with 26:43.44. Fisher, with a time of 26:43.46, grabbed bronze in the men’s 10k since Galen Rupp in 2012.

Fisher, who nearly took a tumble with about nine laps to go, staged a comeback from fifth place to close in on eventual winner Joshua Cheptegei in the final lap. He was narrowly edged out at the finish line by Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi for the silver medal. With this performance, Fisher became the first U.S. man to medal in the 10,000 meters since Galen Rupp’s silver in London in 2012. But the question here comes: who is Joshua Cheptegi who came first?

Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda’s most decorated distance runner, holds the world record and boasts seven global gold medals over a decade-long international career. The Paris Olympics mark his third appearance, following his performances in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. holding the world records for both the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters, as well as the world’s best time for the 15 kilometers.

In 2020, he made history by becoming the first person to run 5 kilometers in under 13 minutes, clocking an astonishing 12:51. In Tokyo, Cheptegei returned home with two Olympic medals. He won gold in the 5,000-meter, and silver in the 10,000-meter race.

Cheptegei stands out as one of ten men in history to simultaneously hold the world records for both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters, an accomplishment he managed in 2020. After his appearance at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Cheptegei came back strong at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, showcasing progress in his career.

In December 2019, Cheptegei established a record for the 10-kilometer road race in Valencia, clocking in at 26 minutes and 38 seconds. He then went on to break another record for the 5-kilometer road race in Monaco in February 2020, completing it in 12 minutes and 51 seconds. The question now arises: Is America’s representative, Fisher, also a record-breaker?

Grant Fisher overcame Tokyo’s hurdles for Paris’s glory

Grant Fisher is well known for setting records and holding the national titles in the 5,000 meters (12;46.96), 10,000 meters (26;33.84), and 3,000 meters (7;25.47). His notable achievements include winning a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics after finishing in the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. From breaking the four-minute mile milestone in school to establishing himself as a top distance runner in college and beyond, Fisher’s journey has been marked by success. However, their memorable match from 2021 is still vividly remembered by many.

When Grant Fisher lined up for the 10,000-meter final at the Tokyo Olympics, he faced a towering challenge: Joshua Cheptegei, who had smashed world records with a 26:11 time. Fisher, with a 27:11 personal best, knew he was up against the wall. Both athletes understood the high stakes and the bar that had been set, and Joshua won silver at that time with 27:43:63. Fast forward to today, and the gap has significantly narrowed. Fisher’s journey was fueled by the U.S.’s altitude training revolution and a rising tide of elite runners. With a historic win today, Fisher’s story proves that perseverance can turn dreams into reality.